Automatic vocal announcement selector



Dec. 9, 1941. Q K Blspmggs` JR 2,265,594

AUTOMATIC VOCAL ANNOUNCEMENT SELECTOR Filed Dec. 15, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l M A n N 25s a N! n o v g w 1n t l JI d. N l N l M N Dec. 9, 1941. o. KQ BARNES, JR 2,265,594

AUTOMATIC VOCAL ANNOUNCEMENT SELECTOR Filed Deo. 13, 1939- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllllmn .OBV/L 5A @was wlw Dec. 9, 1941. O,-K BARNES, JR 2,265,594

AUTOMATIC VOCAL ANNOUNCEMENT SELECTOR Filed Dec. 15, 1939 '4 Sheets-Sheet 3 glu/venian [III I E.' @gw OKI/ALLE Sme/va Jg.

Dea-9, 1941.

o. K. BARNES, JR 2,265,594

AUTOMATIC VOCAL ANNOUNCEMENT SELECTOR Filed Dec'. 13, 1939 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC VOCAL ANNOUNCEMENT' SELECTOR mouth, Ohio Application December 13, 1939, Serial No. 309,093

11 claims.

The present invention is concerned with an automatic vocal anouncement selector. It is particularly adapted for use in connection with voice reproduction for talking scales, Weighing and measuring devices, annunciator systems and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide means whereby a series of several hundred weight announcements may be placed on a single record and the desired anouncement picked out and reproduced in response to a specific signal such as weight on a scales or the like.

It may be seen that such a device readily lends itself to use where people open doors, operate hidden switches in any way instead of utilizing weight as a prime motivator.

The device could be operated by an electric motor the circuit of which is controlled by desired signals.

Again, the invention can be utilized in connection with such signal means as a photo-electric cell, general light sensitive type or one which responds to specic colors, and electric circuits which may be effected by body capacity. This in itself could be used as a means for selecting the different announcements. For example, different advertising announcements could be made to people wearing different colored suits, people of different heights and the like. Or various announcements could be made to people entering certain rooms such as the class of goods carried by the department stores, directions where certain things mayv be found, time and .weather reports as well as advertising of a somewhat spectacular rcharacter in general.

`It is ran object of the invention to provide a mechanical means for storing up energy ofan in termittent nature to be delivered in measured quantities at a later time to operate such a device.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed specification and in the claims.

In the' drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective assembly View of the device.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end View of the vspring motor and other detail.

Fig. 4 is an end View of the toggle detail.

Fig. 5 is an end View of the device showing the cam and Alocking control.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of a control plate.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of a portion of the control mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end elevation of a portion of the drive mechanism.

Like numbers refer to like parts throughout. Referring to the drawings, a grooved cylinder or record I is provided, which has a series of sound tracks thereon in side by side relation. Where the device is made part of a scale having a range up toy three hundred pounds, two hundred and seventy announcements would be suflicient since the very few weights under thirty pounds would be measured. The scale referred to is of the Well known conventional type having a platform -upon which the person tol be weighed stands. As is well known in the ar-t the platform is connected by levers with la dial which indicates the weight of the person standing on the platform. The platform itself moves somewhat under the 'effect of the weight of the person standing thereon. Of course advertising could be combined with the weight anouncement or other information could -be given and fortunes could be told.

Record I is carried by cylinder 2 which is mounted for rotation on shaft 3 by means of spokes 4 and'hub 5. Shaft 3 is journaled in upstanding side wall members Iil and l'by means'of roller bearings 8 and 9.

VThe announcements are picked up from the sound tracks on record I Aby'reproducer I0 which may be the regular mechanical phonographhead or an electrical pickup.

Reproducer I0 is carried by curved supporting arm II which is hinged at I2 to mounting block I3. Extending from the reproducer I0 is iiexible sound carrying tubing YI4 leading to the standard phonograph horn if mechanical equipmentiis used instead of an electrical pick-up. loud speaker may of course be used.

' Mounting bblock I3 slides*v on xed guide bar I5 which is supported by side members 6 and .'I

and extends between the two. The opposite endv of 4arm II is supported by mounting blockl which slides on movable guide bar I'I.

Mounting block I3 Vis threaded internally .so as tomate with `threaded selecting shaft' I8` which places the reproducer I0 at the desiredrannouncementon record I. As shaft Ij8 rotates it causes b lock I3 to slide on guide bars I5 and II. Shaft I8 is supported in side members 6 and 'I by roller bearings I9 and 20 and extends through .bearing 24 mounted on vertical shaft 25 supported by 55v member 22.V `v

l to allow for movement.

At the bottom of shaft is worm gear 26 which mates with worm 21 mounted on horizontal drive shaft 28. Drive shaft 28 is mounted at one end in a bearing in the lower part of member 22 and at the other extends through bearing support 29.v

Drive shaft 28 is connected by suitable means to the platform of a scale which is depressed by an amount depending on the weight placed thereon. Any means can be used to rotate shaft 28 a denite predetermined amount in response to a certain predetermined stimulus or force.

This invention is not confined to weighing mafchines but may include any signal in responseto which a certain announcement is desired to be made.

Any turning of shaft 28 alters theipositionY of v a reproducer I0 on record in a corresponding maner so that the proper announcement may be made in accord with the signal or impulse initiating the rotation of shaft 28. Y

The opposite end of selector shaft I8 extends through side wall 1 and has locking gear 30keyed 3 thereto. A locking pin 3| is'slidably mounted in guide mounting 32. @Locking gear or wheel30 has a slot or tooth foreach anouncement and locking pin 3| engages vthe proper slot or space` between the teeth before the pickup stylus on reproducer I0 orrpickup I0, touches the selected sound groove. 1 A

Bent lever 34 is pivoted to the outer face of-Vside member 1 at 35 and has an enlarged cam portion 36.V Spring 33 urges pin 3| to ride on cam portion 36. Y Y Y Bell crank 31 is mounted on one end of rod |39 which is journaled in side members 6 and1. The short arm of crank 31 carriesone end of guide bar I1. A

. Firmiy attached'to the end of shaft 3 which passes through side member 1 iscam 38 which rotates with shaft 3. Cam follower 39 has a square portion 4 Iwslidably mounted in guide block 40.1 The upper end of cam follower 39 is vcon- 1 nected with the end of the long arm of bell crank 31 and the free end of lever 34flwhich are slotted It Will be seen that with each rotation of slflaft l 3, cam 38 completes a cycle.Y The high portion of the cam raises the follower 39,*4I andactuates lever 34 and its cam 36, removing locking pin 3| from the teeth of locking-gearl 30. Thispermits Ithreaded shaft I8 to rotate. E',imi'iltaneously,l bell crank 31 raises mounting block. |6 which permits s the .sliding ofpickup I0 to any desired location.

VWhere it' is desired "tov haveN individual announcements or sound recordv Iofmore than oneV groove and -so requiring'morer than one rotation 1 of Vthe cylinder'for .complete reproduction, cam 38 may be mounted' cna stub shaft journaledin 1.

wall 1 and geared to shaft 3 for the proper speed ratio. ment requires twoV rotations of cylinder I the j gearing between shaftl 3 and cam 38 is a 2;'1 reduction and ca m 38 rotates athalf the speed vof l l shaftV 3. VIf n revolutions of cylinder I are rel quiredV then the gear reduction will be fm1-and l shaft 3 .will rotate ntimes to one rotation of l cam 38. 4 To allow for sidewise movement of reproducer I0 where a number of grooves is Vused lit can be sldably mounted Yin arm Il' and returned to normal position under lightV spring.4 or

That .is' where the Aindividual announce- 'Circular' plate 42 is mounted on that ,endofi sound cylinder shaft 3 journaled in wall 6 and projecting beyond it. On that portion of plate or disk 42 which faces Wall 6 and which may be referred to as the inner side are two short studs 43 and 44. Stud 43 is located about/ half Way between the center and the kouter edge of disk 42 and displaced angularly about 120 from the second stud 44 which is about one-seventh of the radius from the periphery. On the outer or opposite side of disk 42 is located a longer stud 45 which is closer to the edge of disk 42 than stud 44 and displace a few degrees from it.

Shaft 46 is pivotally mounted in projections 41 on the outer side of wall 6. At the upper end of shaftV 46 and rmly fix-ed thereto is a V shaped member 48 of the nature of an escapement in a Watch mechanism. The right arm of V member 48 has abroad inwardly projecting portion 49 which can engage stud 45. The left arm 50 of V member 48 carries a small spring pressed rod 5I having a disk 52 thereon capablel of engaging stud 44 on the inner side of disk 42. As shaft 46 is rotated clockwise spring pressedrrod 5| contacts disk 42 and slides through its mountingin arm 50 of member 48, compressing its spring until broad projecting portion 46 clears stud 45. When shaft 46 is rotated counter clockwise rod 5| moves to' ward disk 42 under the action of its spring until the stop on the end meets the arm 58. Continued rotationV of shaft 46 moves rod 5| away from disk 42 until it clears stud 44. It will be noted that the relative angular displacement of studs 44 and 45 is such that they may be released one at a time by` successive clockwise and counter clockwise rotations of shaft 46 and so permit disk 42 to rotate. Y

Translatively mounted below` and back of shaft 3 in wall Bis another spring pressed rod 53 having an enlarged head so positioned that it may engage stud 43 on disk 42. Rod 53 extends through its mounting means 54 in wall 6v and is pivotally connected with lever 55. On the inner or left side of wall 6 are projecting mountings 56 in which vertical rod 51 is pivotally mounted. Lever 55 is securely attached to the lower end of rod 51. Lever 58, having a small angular displacement relative to lever 55, is firmly fastened to the upper end so that levers 55 Yand 58 move as a unit with rod 51. Lever 58 extends toward threaded shaft I8 and is of sumcientlength to be operated by mounting block |73 as shown in dotted lines in- Fig. 2. A spring snap means |40 engages'the end of lever 58 which pulls out of a slot-like space between spring means |40 and mounting means I3 as mounting means I3 moves under the actionof threaded shaft I8. They tapered end of vspring snap |40 permits the end of lever 58 to slip'back into its formervposition upon the return of means' or left under the action of governor 63. Plate 62 carries a grooved'wheel 64 in Whichthe forks of bar 59 ride. Adjacent plate 62 and arranged to bear thereon is an Vadjustable speed control 65 which limitsthe speed ypfff-3.o vernor shaft 60. -Y

On the endofggovernorshaft 60; removed from Wall 6 is mounted a pinion 66 mating with gear 81 mounted on the end of shaft 58 which is journaled in bearings r69. Bevel gear is mounted onthe opposite -end of shaft 68 .from gear 61 and mates with bevel gear II `on drive .shaft 28.

On the outer -end of shaft 3, beyond disk 42, is a Worm gear 13 f-or driving the sound cylinder shaft 3.

Where, as Vmentioned previously it is desired to reproduce announcements requiring two or more rotations of cylinder 2 and shaft 3 it will be necessary to locate Worm .gear 13 between disk 42 and wall i8 and .shorten ,shaft 3. Disk 42 will be slightly displaced and mounted on a stub shaft journaled in wall 6. The gearing ratio between shaft 3 and the :stub shaft would be the number of turns -of the cylinder 2 required to reproduce lthe announcement, i. e. N11.

.Mounted on the outer part of wall B are bearing projections 14 rotatively` carrying vertical shaft 15 on which is mounted worm 1.6 engaging worm wheel 13. Worm wheel 11 `is mounted on the bottom end 'of `shaft 1:5.

A horizontal governor shaft 18 is journaled in bearing 19 and carries Aa worm 80 mating with Worm wheel 11..

A circular plate or disk 8| similar to disk 62 is slidably mounted on governor shaft 18 and actuated by a weighted spring 'ty-pe governor 82. An adjustable speed control 83, similar to control 65, is adapted to bear on :disk 8| to limit the upper valueof the speed of governor shaft 1-8.

Governor shaft 18 carries at one end a worm -84 which mates with Worm gear 85 on short vertical shaft 86 which is suitably mounted in bearings 81 and 88.

On the upper end of vvertical shaft 85 is a worm 89 which mates with large free running worm wheel 90 on spring motor shaft 9|. Motor shaft `9| is suitably mounted in bearings 92 and carries a ratchet wheel 93 closely adjacent free running worm wheel 90. Spring pressed pawl 94, pivotally mounted on worm gear 90, engages ratchet 93 when spring motor 95 on shaft 9| is unwinding. Spring motor 95 is mounted firmly onthe base.

The other Aend of motor shaft 9|y carries a winding gear 96 and a small Geneva wheel 91.

Two large bevel gears 98 and 99 connected by bevel pinion |00 are mounted on short shafts I9| and |92 which are in turn mounted in bearings supports |93, |04 and |05, the central bearing support Y|94 serving both shafts. Another winding gear |95 mating with gear 93 is mounted on shaft .|0I. Bevel pinion |00 is mounted on a cross-shaft |01 turning in bearing supports |94 and |88.

-Runningfree on shaft |02 is a large worm gear |28 mating with worm |21 on drive shaft 28. A ratchet wheel |28 is mounted on shaft |02 to turn therewith. Pawl |29 mounted on worm gear 12B-and pressed by Spring |30 into the teeth of .ratchet wheel |28 insures unidirectional rotation of gear |26 and vshaft |02.

.A short rod |09 is slidably supported in bearing mounting IIO.. Rod |09 and shaft |01 are joined by bearing |88 which permits shaft |01 to rotate and be moved in and out. In this manner the meshing of bevel pinion |99 with bevel .gears 98 and`99 is determined. .The reciprocating movement of rod |09 is obtained by means of small toggle bar-s |I3 having slots II1 cooperating with pin I I.I in the end of rod |89.

Small toggle bars A I3 are pivoted at II4 in bifurcated mounting II5. Ashaft IIBis mounted in the bifurcations of member ||5 and is supported at its other end in upstanding member IYI1. .A small lever II8 is firmly mounted on shaft I5 to turn therewith and is resiliently .connected to small toggle bars I|3 by spring I|9 attached to cross member v|20 jointing the small toggle bars.

Large toggle bar |2I is firmly ymounted onshaft H6 between bearing supports I|5 .and H1.. At the upper end of mounting member |I1 is pivoted a largerGeneva wheel |22 having a stud |23 projecting therefrom a sufficient distance to engage in slot |214 of large toggle bar I2I. Large Geneva wheel |22 mates with a small Geneva wheel 81 on motor yshaft 9|.

The operation of the device is as follows:

. It will be noted that in the normal unoperated condition of the machine, the rise on cam 38 is uppermost, or in a position which raises cam follower 39, 4I and also the slotted ends of bell lcrank 31 and lever 34.. Thus, initially, locking pin `3| vis withdrawn and gear 30 and shaft I8 are free tc turn. .Also crank 31 holds rod I1 in a raised .position which in turn holds the repro- 1ducer or pickup I9 .and its stylus free of the cylinder 1E. The reproducer .I0 .is `therefore free to be .moved along rods I5 and .I1 without scratching the cylinder surface or injur'mg the mechanis'm of the reproducer.

A person to be weighed steps on the scale .platform and depresses it. The platform .is of conventional construction and operatively connected to drive shaft 28 by conventional ra-ckand pinion means not shown. The movement of the platform rotates d-rive shaft .28 which in turn rotates shafts 25 and I9 through the gearing shown.

A certain reiinite rotation of threaded shaft I8 Ymoves the Vreproducer lIll a certain predetermined corresponding distance along rods lI5 and.|1 to a place on record I where the desired announce ment is recorded.A The stylus-of reproducer I0 is thus positioned just `above the appropriate groove in the record I. Flexible tubing .I4 readily lends itself to such movement.

As mounting block I3 moves to the left under the action of threaded shaft |8 lever 58 is likewise moved to the left by spring snap means |40 until the end of lever 58 pulls out of the slot spa-ce under the spring as the mounting block moves farther to the left. The rotation of lever 58 in turn rotates vertical shaft 51 yand lever 55.

Lever 55 draws in spring pressed rod 53 against the action of its spring so that its enlarged h'ead no longer lengages stud 43 on disk 42.

As the speed of governor 63 buildsup, it rotates shaft 4.6 and springpressedrod 5I with its .disk 52 clear of .stud 44 on disk 42. Thus spring pressed rod 5| and` its disk 52 release stud 44 after enlarged portion 49 is positioned beneath stud 45. The rotationof disk 42 after this release is again checked by the action of enlarged portion 49 engaging stud l45 when disk 42 has completed its cycle.

As shown in Fig. rl rotation of shaft 46 by actionvof governor 63 releases stud 44. At the same time enlarged portion 49 of V member 48 is moved over adjacent disk 42. Stud 45 has however already gone by and portion 49 does not engage stud 45 until near the completion of the cycle. 1

Continued rotation of disk-4r2`, cylinder .2 and shaft 3 also rotate cam 38, lowering cam follower 39 to the long dwell. The lowering offfol-y lower 39 pivots lever34 andbell crank 3 1. Lever 34 actuates locking pin r3I by means of cam 36 so that the pin 3| engagesthe teeth of gear 30 thus locking shaft I8 againstrotation. yBy this time vof course reproducer I has been located above the proper groove in record I. A

Rotation of bell crank 31 about its pivot lowers guide bar I1 and mounting block I6 so that the `stylus of reproducer I0 engages the cylinder I.

After the announcement is made the rise on cam 38 again lifts follower 39 which in turn lifts the stylus of reproducer I0 olf record I and withdraws locking p'm 3 I, releasing gear 30.

Control disk 42 rotateswith cylinder 2 on shaft 3 and is stopped when outer stud 45 engages enlarged portion 49 of V member 48. When governor 53 ceases rotation forked member 59 and V member 48 rotate so that enlarged portion 49 is rotated clockwise (as seen from above) to release Ystud 45. The release of stud 45 is effected by the action of the springs which support the weights of Y governor 63. The action of these springs pushes barV 59 to the left when th'e rotation of governor 93 ceases and moves V member 48 clockwise.

Disk 42 rotates until stud 44"engages disk 52 on rod I, Atthis stage this portion of the apparatus is ready for'the next cycle;

When the scale platform is released and restored to its original position by the weighing mechanism, shafts 26 and I8 are rotated in a re` verse direction which restores reproducer I0, sliding mounting blocks I3 and I8 on guide bars |5, I1. The end of lever 58 slips under the tapered end of spring snap means |40. Lever 58, shaft 51 and lever 55 had beenpreviously rotated under the action of `th spring Vsurrounding rod 53 which `'projects and engages stud 43. Disk 42 is thus held against rotationwhen V member 48 is rotated by governor` ionthe return of .the scale platform.

` The cylinder 2 is rotated by a spring motor 95. Worm gear 13o n shaft 3 is rotated by worm 16 on s y on shaft `I5 which hasv a worm gear 11 on its lower end. Horizontal governor shaft 18 carries a worm 80 mating with worm gear 11 and a second worm 84 mating with worm gear Y85 which is on the same shaft 86 as worm 8,9. The above train is driven by large worm gear 90 which runs freely on spring motor shaftv 9|. running it is moved in one direction onlyY by ratchet 93 and pawl 94. It is unaffected by the winding of spring 95.

Spring shaft 9| is turned for winding by winding gears 95, |06, sh'aft IIlI, |02V and bevel gears 98', 99 engaging pinion |00. ShaftV |02k is rotated by large free running Worm gear |26 mating with worm |21 on shaft 28. When gear |26 rotates clockwise pawl |29 engages ratchet |28which is rmly attached to shaft |02. Whenshaft 28 reverses gear |26 merely spins freely. Y

BevelV pinion |00 and its shaft |01 are slidably movable so as to disengage bevel gears 98-and 99 and free that portion of the winding train. The position of pinion |00 is controlled by sliding rod |09 and toggle bars I I3, I 2|. Large Geneva wheel |22 acting ontoggle I|3, I2I by means of pin |23 moves bevel pinion |09. VSmall Geneva wheel 91Y i VVon' spring motor shaft Y9| mates with la-rge wheel |22 and makes one complete turn between the extreme positions of pin |23.

- The first rotations of shaft 28 Vwinds the spring 95pthrough theA winding train referred to above. Spring 95 is wound byvv one turn of spring shaft 9 After two rotations of the spring shaft pinV |23 Since gear 90 is free Stud 44 does not engage enlarged head 52 has moved.k the toggle back and spring |I9 disengages pinion I 00 from gears98, 99. Y

Spring 95 "then unwinds and drives the train leading to-1shaft`3.V nThe unwinding of springV 95 reverses small YGeneva wheel 91 and large Geneva wheel |22. Pin |23 brings the toggles back to their former position and pinion I 00 is again meshed with bevel gears 98 and 99.

The above description sets forth one embodiment of the invention and is to be regarded as illustrative and not as limiting. The concept lends itself to many' adaptations. The recorded announcements could be on film if desired and picked up by a light sensitive cell.

The invention could be made more compact by placing the motor, winding device and release controls between upstanding side wall members 6 and 1. This could be accomplished by raising the record cylinder high enough to accommodate th'e parts and by changes in positioning the various control devices. i

With regard to Geneva wheels 91, |22 toggles II3, I2I; sliding shaft' |09; bevel pinion |00 and bevel gear 99 it may be stated that this assembly.

is provided for two reasons. Otherwise shafts I0| and |02 could have been solid.

First each patron who steps on the scales will supply a certain amount o-f energy Which is transmitted to the motor spring through the winding gear train. The force applied will not be the same for all patrons. To prevent a two hundred fifty pound person from winding the spring twice as much as a one hundred and 'twenty-ve pound person, means had to be provided to wind the spring shaft a given amount and then automatically disengaging the winding train.

Second, means had to be provided to allow the spring shaft to unwind and drive the' record cylinder while a patron still remainder on the scale platform. Y Y

'II claim:

1. In a selective announcement device, a movable record having a series'of recordings thereon,

a reproducer mounted adjacent said record, means mounting said reproducer in operative relation to said record to reproduce said record` ings from said record, means mounting said reproducer and record for relative shifting movement to selected positions relative to each other to reproduce a selected recording, drive means connected toY said record to move the same, a movable controlmember operatively connected to said reproducer to cause said relative shifting movement to selected ypositions when said member is moved in one direction and means operated by said control vmember and operatively connectedwith the record to successively startV and stop movement of said record when said control member is inoved insaid one direction.

2. 4The combination set forth in claim 1, said means mounting said reproducer comprising means connected to 'said Yrecord. whereby movement thereof raises andk lowers said reproducer.

3. The combinationfset' forth in claim 1,'locking means connected to'said umeans mounting said reproducer and said means mounting said reproducer'and said recordforrelative shifting movement'whereby a portion of said reproducer is locked in-'said selected position during reproduction of an announcement. 4. The combination set forthV in claim 1, said drive means comprising lost motion mechanism whereby 'excess'energy is dissipated.

5. 'VIhe combination set-forth'in claim 1, said drive means comprising a disengaging mechanism.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1, said control member comprising a drive shaft connected to said drive means and said means mounting said reproducer and record for relative shifting movement.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising a disc with lugs projecting therefrom and a pivoted member arranged to engage at least one of said lugs.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1, said control member being connected to and controlling the operation of said means mounting said reproducer and record for relative shifting movement, said drive means and said means op eratively connected with the record to successively start and stop movement of said record.

9. The combination set forth in claim 1, lever means actuated by rotation of said record acting to lock said means mounting said reproducer and record for relative shifting movement during the reproduction of a selected recording.

10i. The combination set forth in claim 1, said drive means comprising a spring and a winding train connecting it to said control member, means disconnecting said train when said spring is sufciently Wound.

11. The combination set forth in claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising an escapement mechanism actuated by a governor connected to said control member.

ORVILLE K. BARNES, JR. 

